Mandala South Asian Performing Arts, a Chicago-based arts organization that creates community-rooted public programs through music, dance, storytelling, and collaborative performance, is continuing its community-building Red Line Jazz Project, according to a press release. The public arts initiative activates public transit hubs and neighborhood spaces across Chicago with free live music and cultural programming.
Blending Jazz and South Asian Traditions
The project’s next free performance features jazz guitarist Fareed Haque, who serves as a Mandala Artist-in-Residence and curator of the Red Line Jazz Project, performing with the Fareed Haque Group. Joining Haque on stage are Alex Austin on bass, Greg Fundis on drums, Hitesh Master on harmonium and Hindustani vocals, and Charles and Erra Sanderson Haque on percussion and woodwinds.
The performance takes place Thursday, August 27 at 6 p.m. at Taylor Park, located at 39 W. 47th St. on the edge of Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood.
Through these curated performances, local jazz musicians and ensembles present short live sets at or near Red Line L stations to create spontaneous moments of connection for commuters and neighborhood residents. The performances blend jazz improvisation with global musical influences, reflecting Chicago’s rich musical heritage and its diverse communities, including Rogers Park, Chatham, Chinatown, Uptown, Bronzeville, and Roseland.
A Virtuoso Artist and Community Vision
Fareed Haque is a modern guitar virtuoso steeped in classical and jazz traditions. Known for his command of the guitar across different musical styles, Haque has recorded and toured with numerous ensembles, including Garage Mahal and Fareed Haque’s MathGames. He previously performed as part of Mandala’s Diwali celebration at the Harris Theater in fall 2023.
Reflecting on the mission of the initiative, Founding Artistic Director Pranita Nayar highlighted the project’s roots in South Asian concepts.
“The Red Line Jazz Project reflects Mandala’s vision of using the arts to foster belonging, cultural exchange, and meaningful connection in everyday life by bringing live jazz performances into public spaces, transforming routine commutes into shared cultural experiences,” said Founding Artistic Director Pranita Nayar. “The project uses the concept of the mandala—a symbol of unity, rhythm, and interconnectedness—as a guiding metaphor for collaborative musical expression.”
Connecting Communities Across Chicago
The Red Line Jazz Project aims to activate public transit spaces with live music, celebrate Chicago’s jazz legacy, and create accessible performance opportunities for artists in everyday public settings. By amplifying community voices through stories about how culture shapes city life, the initiative transforms routine travel into an immersive cultural experience where rhythm, improvisation, and community converge.
The project has been made possible by support from the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation and Elevated Chicago, alongside partnerships with Bustling Spaces and the Chicago Transit Authority.
Free neighborhood performances continue through October 1, including upcoming showcases on September 10 and October 1 at the 95th/Dan Ryan Station featuring the Windy City Ramblers. The initiative culminates in the Red Line Jazz Festival, a ticketed performance featuring Haque and guest artists on Friday, October 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park.
A complete schedule is available at mandalaarts.org/events/red-line-jazz-project-2026/.
For more information, visit mandalaarts.org.
This text was edited with the assistance of an AI tool and has been reviewed and edited for accuracy and clarity by India Currents.
The post Mandala Arts Brings Jazz & South Asian Fusion To Chicago appeared first on India Currents.
